Freeman, George Adelbert (1852-1930)

George Ross’ Portrait Photograph of George Adelbert Freeman

THE PHOTOGRAPHER/ PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO:

GEORGE COLVAINE ROSS was born February 12, 1832 in Edinburgh, Scotland and died in 1893 at the age of 60 in Petaluma, California. Unlike the other nineteenth century Petaluma photographers, Ross lived and worked in Petaluma for many years. He arrived in Petaluma in 1855, and in 1862 he began his profession as a photographer, moving his studio within the city several times as noted on his various carte de visite and cabinet card imprints. In 1869 he was also part of a short-lived photographic studio partnership with Elon D. Ormsby on Main Street in Petaluma. It was reported that Ross stopped working as a photographer soon after he developed a disability in 1888. Ross was among the most prolific Petaluma portrait photographers, and his work was of exceptionally high quality. Ross was buried in Petaluma’s Cypress Hill Memorial Park. (For additional information on this photographer and to view all portraits by him in the collection, click on his name in blue above.)


THE SITTER:

Name: George Adelbert Freeman (as identified in a Church family and friends portrait album donated to the Petaluma Historical Library & Museum)

Description: In this head-and-shoulder portrait, George Adelbert Freeman appears as a young man with a chevron style mustache and side-parted hair which has been carefully oiled and combed. He wears a fashionably large-lapeled jacket and matching vest under which is a white shirt with a wide-spread collar. Down the front of his shirt are horizontal pleats on both sides of its front buttons, and at his throat is an unusual, fan-shape, light-colored, neck ornament with an round object at its base.

Biographical Note: The Petaluma Weekly Argus reported on November 7, 1867 that George Freeman and Jordan Peters were “held to answer” for fighting at the Resort Saloon over a game of cards. It was reported that Freeman was not hurt, but Peters’ thumb and ear were wounded. The Petaluma Weekly Argus also reported in 1867 that George Freeman’s horse “Blazing Star” was awarded the prize for “best horse for all work” at the spring horse show in Tomales. On October 3 of 1883, the Petaluma Courier reported, “James, Henry and George Freeman, sons of M. [sic] D. Freeman, and Herman Church, all of Tomales, have gone to San Luis Obispo to purchase land. I am sorry old Sonoma cannot keep them here, for these young farmers would be a credit to the county.” It was reported by a descendant that George Freeman and his brother, Emil Royce Freeman (1851-1933), eventually became dairy farmers in the Morro Bay Area.

Family Affiliation: George Adelbert Freeman was the second son of early Sonoma County pioneers, William Darius Freeman (1827-1907) and Mary Halstead Freeman (1833-1913). William and Mary settled in Tomales township, where they raised at least eleven children and were buried in the Tomales Presbyterian Cemetery. George’s first wife was Sara Harriett Cass Freeman (1854-1896). According to the Petaluma Weekly Argus, he divorced her in 1885 on the grounds of desertion and was awarded custody of their five minor children. It was reported by a descendant of George’s that Sara was the daughter of Captain James Cass, the founder of Cayucos, California. George later married Emma Perrins Freeman (1862-1943) with whom he had two additional children, and both he and Emma were buried in Palo Alto, California. It is of note that this portrait remains, as donated to the Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, in the Church Family Album.

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THE PHOTOGRAPH:

Format / Size:  carte de visite

Medium: albumen photographic print mounted on cardstock

Description, front: This carte de visite portrait is framed within a vertical oval.

Description, back: In the center of the back of this card between two elegant flourishes is George Ross’ imprint stating that his studio is on Main Street in Petaluma, “immediately opposite the American Hotel.”.

Date: 1872-1882

Condition: This carte de visit is soiled with overall foxing on both sides. On the front there are two small, round, black dots, one at the center top and the other at the center bottom. It appears that a thin sliver of the top edge has been cut off.

Owner:  Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, 1979-425-01-p34-p22, Church Family Album

Reproduction rights: The Petaluma Museum Association makes no assertions as to ownership of any original copyrights to the digitized images here reproduced.  These images are intended for personal or research use only. Any other kind of use, including, but not limited to commercial or scholarly publication in any medium or format, public exhibition, or use online or in a web site, may be subject to additional restrictions including but not limited to the copyrights held by parties other than the Association. USERS ARE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE for determining the existence of such rights and for obtaining any permissions and/or paying associated fees necessary for the proposed use.